Compare towns
Upton vs Epping vs Oxford vs Sturbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Oxford has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Upton | Epping | Oxford | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
7,430Lowest |
13,385Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
42±2.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oxford and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$103,862±$10kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$374,900±$18kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,177±$142 17% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Epping and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$4,622Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±15.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #46 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #245 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Epping School District | Oxford | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Epping High School | Oxford High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
9.3 |
10.3 |
7.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.